My insurance is requiring me to install a railing on our deck. The previous insurance company apparently didn’t care or didn’t notice that there was no railing because weedy bushes were growing up in front of where the railing would be when we bought the place. My wife and I chopped out the bushes to enjoy the uncluttered view of hills without houses. Now she is irritated that the railing will disrupt that view. At issue is the height of the railing.
Not being willing to ask the insurance company and get back some answer that I would then be obligated to follow explicitly, I thought of inquiring here. What are the general guidelines on the height of a deck railing? Do building codes have anything to say about this? If so, what? What is the common practice?
I realize that this is a rather inane question but the last time I had a home improvement problem I got excellent advice here.
Thanks.
Replies
Check with your local city building department. They usually have a handout that has the requirements for your area.
Normally the height is 36"- 40" with 4"between balusters.
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Codes can differ by area, but I seem to remember that, typically, decks over about 30" require a hand rail. I tend to like the tensioned cables to minimize the blocking of the view - with a steel toprail if you really want a minimalist design. I have seen tempered glass beneath the top railing and while they allow visibility, they still seem more intrusive than the cables. But just my opinion. A sample picture (know nothing about this company but there are a number of vendors advertising the cable systems):
http://www.cablerail.com/index_2.html
Thank you.
For residential, the codes require a rail if it is over thirty inches avove the ground but many insurance companies here require it if more than 18" up. I guess they have too many claims. We don't have codes enforcement here. In '88, I built a large deck around a pool and the owner refused a railing because of the view thing. his first weekend on the deck, he had a big party and one of his buddies walked off and broke his ankle.
The height to top of rail from deck should be 36" for residential.
Another option that occasionaly works to satisfy is to build a bench seat around the deck. This way, you can trip over the 18" seat and land on your head instead of walking straight off and breaking your ankle.
LOL
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Also consider that "bar height" patio furniture helps when forced to have railings.
Another thought, would it be possible to raise the grade in the direction of the "best view" so that side did not need a railing?
low enuf to pee over, or high enuf to pee through .
thats code here.
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